Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2010 20:41:25 -0700 (PDT)
From: Nate House
Subject: Abandoned Blood 5
Greetings once again. This is a story about a woman and her vampire, but
it's not a vampire story. It's not a love story, but it is a story about
love, and the power it has to heal, and to destroy. It contains explicit
sexual acts between females, among other people. It contains scenes of
graphic violence and rape. If you are not of legal age to read this type of
story, or if this isn't your cup of tea then please leave now.
Though inspired by true events, all characters and events herein are
entirely of my own imagination and any resemblance to any actual person
either living or dead, real or imaginary, or actual event is entirely
coincidental; I'll leave it to you to decide what's fact and what's
fiction.I'd like to thank everyone who has written to me so far. Thank you
so very much for your support and kind words.
Comments, questions, concerns, and criticism are greatly appreciated.
Enjoy.
********************
Chapter 5
I don't know what happened really. One minute I'm talking with Nadia,
actually being mature and leaving my scar the hell alone, then the next
thing I know I start feeling dizzy and the only thing I want is her to fuck
me? I'm not a perfect angel, but I'm also not some cheap slut that bangs
any random chick just because she started making sense. My brain hurt as I
tried to wrap my brain around it. Now that the pheromones and endorphins
have worn off, the confusion started setting in.
I woke up in a position much like how I passed out. That's unusual. Damn,
that vamp aura thing must have really knocked me out. Or was it all of
those orgasms? Either way, however confused I may be, my body felt
refreshed--except for the fact my naked ass was still in that puddle. The
room was dark again. The red curtains looked more black than before. Must
be night time.
I sat up and looked around. The mirror of to my left saw me first. I looked
a helluva lot better than the last time. My face was still pale and my eyes
were a bit sunken, but at least I just looked sick, not dying. I'll take
it; I smiled. Movement in the glass spun my attention around. I kept my
smile up when I saw Nadia stirring in one of those plush chairs. It wasn't
genuine, but polite--she did live up to her word, after
all.
"Sleep well?" she asked with her eyes still closed. I nodded. A little grin
spread on her lips. "I didn't think of you as someone who talks in her
sleep." Funny, me neither. "Those were some kind words, Charlene."
The use of my real name still made me uneasy. Especially coming from this
girl. "Yeah, well, I'm a kind person. And you did take care of me like you
said you would. Even though you caused my bleeding, I'll still say thank
you for that." She made a noise that I'll take as a "your welcome." I
looked towards that narrow, crawlspace window. "What time is it, anyway?"
"About two-thirty in the morning," she breathed, adjusting in the cushion.
"Shouldn't you be out there prowling the night?" I asked sarcastically.
"No," Nadia answered plainly, "Like I told you on the stairs, they call to
me."
"About that," I started, leaning forward. A chill ran through me as my
puddle splashed. "What exactly do you mean by 'we call out to you'?"
Her eyes opened fully. next series of movements happened so fast that I
couldn't follow. The next time I saw her she was standing at the foot of my
bed. The rim of her natural eye color was thinning. Shit. What was it in
that question that makes her vamp out on me? As frightening as Nadia's face
was becoming, I wanted to know. I gestured for her to explain.
"I really can't explain it," she said, her tone hard and tight. She was
trying to hold back. Pain flashed through her eyes, then vanished. It was
quick, but it was there. I stiffened at the sound of her voice, edging into
dark. "You'd have to experience it for yourself to know what it's like." I
felt at ease by that, until she added something that send my skin
crawling. "Stop asking me."
I stifled the shiver that started. I didn't like the anger in her tone, and
I don't think Nadia did either. Suddenly, I was very much aware of my
half-nakedness. Looking for a change in subject I asked her, "Can I have a
towel?" I wasn't too surprised when she didn't move right away. I don't
think I would ever accuse Nadia of wearing her emotions on her face, but
she wasn't very good at hiding them either. She was battling with something
that I'd rather not know right now. "Nadia?" I prompted, trying to snap her
back to reality.
"Huh," she said, blinking. Even in the dark, I could see her pupils
shrinking. Lucky me.
"I asked you for a towel." I looked around the floor and my expression
fell. "And my clothes." I looked back up at her. She was smiling at
least. "Where are they?"
"I put them in wash a couple of hours ago. They should be dry in the next
ten minutes or so," the vampire said as she went to the door. "They were
completely saturated from... earlier." I remembered that much. It was why
we fucked in the first place. At least that's what I'm telling
myself. Nadia left the room, saying something about her soft towels.
I fell back on the bed. Two-thirty in the morning? I've been in this
basement for the better part of twenty-four hours and I haven't spoken to
my parents, my brother, or Tiffany yet. I'm sure my voicemail was filled
with frantic messages from all four of them. Unless Travis or Henry said
something to my parents--which I hoped to hell they hadn't--they would have
no idea of knowing where I am. A big no-no since I agreed to the rules of
living in their house as I went to college. Oh man, I was in trouble.
Looking up and thinking of a way out of this, I noticed that the mural
above me seemed lower than last time. I tilted my head as it started to
glow in that pale blue haze--for the second time. The harder I looked at it
the more it began to look like a scene right out of Dracula. A long, fair
haired man biting the neck of a long, dark haired pale woman. I squinted in
an attempt to close the distance. The man was bordering on beautiful. Soft
skin, deep fierce eyes with a gentle grasp on the woman's shoulders. She
put up no effort to resist. My scars tingled at the familiarity. The
beautiful pale woman looked like she could be Nadia's sister. She was
definitely eastern european and had similar features to the vampire that
was throwing something around upstairs.
That thought pulled my attention to the doorway. So there were stairs
somewhere in that hallway. They must be tucked behind one of the panels
that lined the side I didn't lean on. I moved to get up, but the wet chill
of the puddle Nadia made me make set me back down. Oh, god, I needed a
shower. I smelled like sex, sweat, blood and vampire
pheromones. Wait. Blood?
A shot of adrenaline ran through me as I moved my hand up to my neck. It
came away clean. The image of Nadia nuzzling the other side of my neck
flashed through my mind. I checked the other side. Clean. I ran my hand
over my legs, looking everywhere the vamp's mouth touched me. It wasn't
until I remembered that I bled so much yesterday that some of it spilled
into the collar of my shirt. I licked my fingers to moistened them and
squeezed them together around the edge. My hand came away in that dark
crimson, made even darker by the azure blur in which I now saw everything.
Why the hell was I just now smelling that? It's been dry for over twelve
hours, and I all but forgot about it until now. Nadia was standing in the
doorway with a towel draped over her arm. She saw me looking at my hand. I
looked to her, but she shook her head. "You need a shower," she said
softly, coming into the chamber and offering me the plush material. I think
that was more directed at the fact that she wanted to wash my shirt and get
the scent of blood out of the room.
I took the offering and stood up. I took my shirt and bra off and studied
them for a minute. I didn't care that Nadia was watching me like a
hawk. Half of my white bra was stained completely black from the dried
blood. Despite the fact that my t-shirt was black, I cold see the blood
ring stretching over my shoulder and halfway down the back. Damn. No wonder
she nearly vamped out on me.
I wrapped myself in that nice terry material. She was right, this was the
softest towel I've ever worn. "Thank you," I mumbled as I rounded the bed.
"Take those things with you," she said, nodding to my clothes and standing
with her arms over her middle. Damn. She didn't trust herself to even touch
it without freaking?
"Okay," I said, picking up the garments. "Do you have something I can wear
until their dried?"
She nodded and disappeared from the room. Shit. If Nadia was moving with
her vampire speed, then I knew how bad she wanted to bite me. Her misguided
sense of self-control was losing again, and we just woke up. I followed as
quickly as I could without startling her. Thanks to her little memory stunt
she pulled a few hours ago, I had a better understanding of her instincts
when a meal willingly follows her into a dark hallway. I'd rather not
experience that; I had a close enough call yesterday and that was good
enough for me.
I walked out of the room and into the hallway. With my new vision I could
see it in much more detail. Son of a bitch. The panels I was leaning
against after she attacked me opened to reveal the stairs. I rested my full
weight against them and they hadn't budged. My compliments to whoever built
it, not that I think I'm fat. I took each step lightly--they looked like
they would crumble if I looked at them hard enough. That, and the groaning
of each one played havoc on my now-sensative hearing.
When I took my first real look around the main floor I understood why she
would want to spend most of her time downstairs. The kitchen was barren of
anything extra. No dishes in the strainer, no pots or pans on the
stove. I'm sure the fridge and pantry would fit in at Old Mother Hubbard's
house. The dining room lacked a table. Just another plush chair sitting by
one of the french doors. At least the glass of the doors was pretty, a nice
stained design that I'm sure Nadia did herself if the decor below was any
indication to her skill in that department.
Heading towards the sound of running water, I walked past the doorway
leading to the living room. At least there was a nice black leather couch
nestled in front of a big flatscreen HDTV. Organized neatly in the cabinets
below and all around was her massive DVD collection. There had to be almost
a thousand movies in there. The carpet was a beautiful deep red. Two
guesses as to why? I'm sure I'll only need one. The coffee table looked
like it was made of real white granite and ash; it provided a nice contrast
to the otherwise dark room.
I spun when I felt Nadia's presence nearby. Nearby, hell, she was
practically inside of me. I jumped when our noses nearly touched. Behind
her was her washer/dryer combo. It looked like one of those new "energy
efficient" sets. What the hell does she do for a living? She must have seen
the questions on my face--again--because she glanced over her shoulder and
repeated her earlier answer, "Friends."
I was beginning to not like that word. My answer was a sarcastic,
"Figured."
"Just throw the soiled articles in the top door," she said, edging past
me. I turned to follow her movements. She reached into the fridge and
pulled out a gallon of milk. Odd choice of beverage. "The soap is already
loaded and the settings are ready. Just throw them in there and press
start." I watched her for a minute longer as she got two glasses--the only
two glasses--out of one of the cupboards above the sink and filled them
with the white liquid. As she spun around, I did the same. This was bizarre
enough without making eye contact.
"Thanks," I mumbled as I pressed the start button. I could smell lavender
coming from the bathroom, and it was very inviting. I could almost smell
the heat of the water, almost relaxing me already.
"Sure," the vampire said, not knowing what else to say. Good, I wasn't the
only one feeling a bit awkward. She looked down and played with her foot
for a second before following me into the bathroom.
I should have figured the toilet, the tub, the sink, the shower and every
other tile would be black. However dark it made the room look, it did have
an odd comfort to it. Maybe because it was unusual, at least to me, to see
a bathroom like this. It was nice actually. Who'd have thought that
black-and-lavender checkered tile would match a black shower with a hunter
green curtain. But the rubber ducky in bondage gear in the tub was a nice
touch. Yeah, I laughed at that.
"Oh. My. God." I breathed as I melted into the water. Any tension I might
have had two seconds ago was gone. Anxiety, stress, everything vanished
before I was fully submerged. This was, for lack of a better word,
heavenly. The aroma of the fuzzy suds, the temperature of the water, and
the comic relief floating by my foot relaxed everything away. "Nadia, this
is wonderful."
"Is it?" she asked with a bit of concern. She was sitting on the closed
commode, her body tight, her posture rigid. I would have felt uneasy if I
remembered how. "I was hoping I didn't make it too hot; my skin doesn't
feel temperatures like yours does. I guess I did good."
"Very good," I corrected, closing my eyes. They cracked back open at the
sound of something coming my way. Nadia had one of the glasses outstretched
for me. I thanked her as I sat up to take it. Again, it looked like regular
milk, but since she was drinking too I didn't trust that it really was. So
I asked.
"Two percent milk fat," she said after swallowing. I made a face that
asked, "Anything else?" She smiled. "No, just regular milk. Blood may keep
me sustained, but milk helps keep the acidic taste out of my
mouth. Besides, it's not like it's bad for
me."
Good point. I hadn't thought of it that way. I took a sip. Then
another. Mom always bought whole milk, so this was a bit off from what I
was used to, but my hungry stomach wasn't complaining. That's when it hit
me, I haven't eaten anything since dinner at the club two days ago. Nadia
heard my stomach growl and giggled. The sound didn't sit well with me. It
made her seem much less dangerous than she really was. Images of her
attacking her father flashed through me.
"Finish your milk an your bath," she said, sounding like my mother, "Then
get dressed so I can get you some food."
I took another gulp. "What do have that I can eat around here?"
"Nothing." she stood up and disappeared through the door behind me. I heard
a door open, then close a few heart beats later. "I'm going to take you
out. Think of it as a meet-the-family date."
"I'd rather not," I whispered, but knew she heard me. "Besides, we're not
dating. I barely even know you." And I still let you fuck me. Yep, cheap
whore, right here.
"Then let's change that," she said right into my ear, making me splash
water on the floor. "I've got some clothes picked out for you. They're on
the bed whenever you're ready." She disappeared again, presumably to get
changed herself.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Based on what I'd seen her
wearing so far, at least I knew I'd be in something nice. She wasn't a
slouch in the fashion department. Hell the gown she wore to the club the
other night must have set her--or her "friends"--back at least a grand. "So
where are we going?" As weird as the words felt coming out of my mouth, I
could get used to talking to somebody while I was in the tub without having
to shout. In your face, Sven.
"You'll see." Great, more empty, cryptic answers. I was hoping it would be
a twenty-four hour place like IHOP--pancakes and coffee sound really god
right about now. Hell, it could be some run down bar for all I care, as
long as they had a lot of food and no vampires. But that "meet the family"
comment spoke to the otherwise.
********************
Even to a normal nose I smelled clean. Clean and fresh. I opted to not use
the same towel I came in here with. The less tension around Nadia the
better. The clothes were nice. Her black satin/silk, lace panty and bra set
were smooth against my skin. The gown was a beautiful corseted dress. From
the way it was built, the ribs were made of real bone. I was unfamiliar
with the material, but it wasn't cheap. The skirt came just low enough to
show off my legs without being slutty. I kinda liked the ruffled pleats.
I looked into the mirror above the dresser and held my hair up. I did a
quick once
over then decided it looked batter down. I fluffed it a little bit, the
dark strands looking sexy as they hung before my face. I heard Nadia's
cadence in the hallway and quickly reached for the bag she had set out for
me. I still didn't know where my purse ran off to.
"Just a second," I said before she could come in. The little black,
night-on-the-town bag had just the essentials what a girl might
need--wasn't big enough for anything else. I tucked it under my arm and
headed out. And nearly ran smack into the vampire who blocked my
exit. "What's up?"
She didn't answer. The dark, fierce eyes just stared into mine. Thinking
she doing that mind-thing again, I tried to limit my anxiety and
nervousness, but I'm sure that was folly. She knew my emotions before I
did. And that little twitch that flashed over her lips wasn't helping. I
gestured, asking what was up, but she started walking towards me. I
retreated away from her, and soon I was up against the wall. Again.
"You look nice," Nadia said simply. Her nostrils flared the instant before
her pupils swelled. Not again.
I closed my eyes in anticipation of that scar-tingle to envelope me. I hit
me once, but only for a second and then disappeared. When I opened my eyes,
Nadia was standing across the room with her head down. I knew she was
struggling to fight off her instincts to bite me. Even if I was looking
better. Her jaw clenched. I heard a sob escape her. It actually hurt to see
her standing like that; seeing this domineering woman looking so sullen, I
couldn't help but reach for her. "You ready?" she said without opening her
mouth. I nodded. Without making a sound, she vanished. Shit. I was going to
find out eventually why she alway keeps vamping out on me so easily.
"Nadia, wait up!" I called out to her. I followed the noise she was making
at the door leading to the garage. Good thing too, because if she wasn't
messing with those keys I don't think I would have ever found her-she was
through the door that fast. This was going to be a long night.
********************
As soon as the garage door opened, I remembered that we were on North Lawn
Street. There was a distant sound of gunshots and tires squealing. That was
followed quickly by a fast succession of return fire. It freak me right the
fuck out, but Nadia was the calmest I've ever seen her. She gets all vampy
and scary when we're in a semi-secure building, but is this relaxed in a
gang war zone? As she pulled out of her driveway, I check again that my
seatbelt was on tight and the oh-shit-handle was in place.
"Stop it," Nadia whispered, putting the car in gear. I looked over at her
and asked what. "Freaking out. I promise you, the more relaxed you are the
more relaxed I'll be."
"Like in the bedroom two minutes ago?" I challenged with her glaring at
me. A car's headlights obscured her features, and before she could respond
I put up a hand and said, "Thank you for not biting me. I don't know if I
can handle anything like for a while yet."
"Good," she answered blankly and headed off down the road. "Because I don't
know if I could have held back."
"And why's that." Great, now I'm getting nervous again and I know that's
not a good thing for either of us.
"You smell really good right now." She glanced at me then shrugged a single
shoulder. "Smell it for yourself if you don't believe me."
Curious, I picked up the shoulder of the shirt and gave it a good
sniff. Damn. She was right, I reeked of vampire pheromones. I could smell
myself among them. It was intoxicating. Seriously, if I wanted to survive
the night I needed to find a way to mask either her
pheromones or my scent. Yeah. How the fuck do I do that?
We made a couple of turns. "See?" the vampire asked. I looked up at
her. The street lamps were either not working or shot. The darkness
swallowed her form against the starless night. I guess that's what
triggered that all too familiar blue haze in my vision. I remember thinking
it odd that it wasn't there when the lights were on in the either the
bathroom, bedroom, or the basement. It disappeared when we passed another
car, then reappeared just as quickly. "I told you that you smelled good."
"Yeah," I breathed, readjusting myself on the seat. Looking for a change of
subject I asked, "Where exactly are we going?"
"You'll see," she answered with a hint of amusement. It's freaky how she
can go from bordering on wanting to suck my blood to that giddy little
schoolgirl routine. "They have an all-you-can-eat buffet, so I think you'll
like it." Was she referring to other human beings, or in the more
traditional sense?
"All the food I can handle, but with all the vampires I can't, " I
accused. "Isn't that what you meant to say. I mean, you did say this was a
'meet the family date'."
Nadia's expression fell. The air in the car tightened. Shit, she was doing
that aura-expanding-thing. I could feel it in my chest. In my head. In my
my mind. I think I just pissed her off. Mental note, Charlie: quite doing
that. This... feeling sucks. She was trying to at least sound pleasant and
I go and say some stupid shit like that and fuck it all up. And now I can
hardly breathe.
"We're here," Nadia mumbled, parking the car. No sooner had she left the
car did my lungs remember how to work. I sucked in as much air that I
could. Bitch. She was doing that on purpose. I'm sure my face was a
different color by now. I got out of the car as fast as my clumsy hands
would allow.
********************
The small neon sign said "Coven Darien". Nadia was already across the
street and heading down the narrow steps. Bathed in that streetlight
orange, I ran over there as fast as my high heels would let me. Why Nadia
had shoes in my size, I didn't want to know. She stood a few inches taller
than me. Maybe her "friends" got a size wrong and she just kept them in the
name of grace. Yeah, I'll keep telling myself that.
The vampire knocked on the heavy oak door. A small window opened up to show
a pair of heavily mascaraed eyes demanding a password. "Noctem Aeternus,"
she answered just above a whisper. The eyes looked over to me, who just
came up beside the vampire, then the window closed. I heard someone messing
with a series of latches and locks before the iron hinges creaked
open. They really play up the whole vampire goth thing here. But I had to
admit that it did give the place a twisted sense of charm. I followed Nadia
into "Coven Darien" and immediately knew this could only end badly.
For being an underground club, it was remarkably quiet. The Were-House was
louder. People weren't dancing as much as they were drinking and eating. I
honestly didn't want to know what was in those goblets, but, given the
overwhelming odor of blood in the air, I could make a guess. The next thing
that hit me was the thickness of those damn pheromones. Immediately my scar
tingled and I was getting everyone's attention. I lied to myself and said
it was because I was new here. The intensity almost made me pass out from
want and need. My pussy juice started flowing. Instinctively, I reached for
Nadia's hand, and not because I could hardly see straight.
The vampire set me on the inside of our booth. From here I could see the
bartender. A good looking guy who looked like an ex-navy SEAL. Crewcut and
everything. I would have jumped him if I was straight. Hell, I was ready to
jump the lamp on the
table if it meant I could get off. I heard Nadia order a drink for us, but
missed what it was or the special instructions she whispered into the
waitress's ear. I clamped my legs closed, but the soft fabric against my
outer folds rubbed even harder. Nadia was so getting laid before we left
here.
"Just try to relax," Nadia said, nudging my leg with hers. That wasn't
helping. "I've got a drink coming for you."
"Th-that's nice," I stammered, opening my eyes. "W-why did you bring me
here? You know how sensitive I am to the pheromones."
"Because I needed to get your face known around here. "It was too logical
to be anything more. "Plus, I know the owner. Everything is on the house."
Couldn't argue with that. "As soon as we get you full, we'll leave. I
promise."
"O-o-oka-ay," I drawled out, on my way to a very happy place. My voice was
so high that I didn't recognize it as mine. I swooned like a teenager in
love. "What about you?" Nadia cocked an eyebrow at me. How come I can't do
that? "Aren't you g-g-getting t-turned on but all th-his?" Trying to have a
conversation with someone while reigning in your sex drive and not sound
retarded is a bitch. I sounded like a doper on ecstasy.
"Of course, but I'm used to it," she explained. "My aura is thick enough to
block out most of the scents in here." She's gotta teach me that
one. "That's why we feed on auras, and not just blood. It strengthens our
own." Then again, maybe she won't.
I made sure I kept my hands where I could see them. The last thing I wanted
to do was embarrass myself in my first visit. I tried to steady my
breathing, but that only did so much. I tried thinking of something that
wasn't sexy, but that was impossible. I'd fuck Quasy-freaking-Moto right
now. The waitress, Mattie, according to her name tag, came back with our
drinks. Knowing what was going on in my head and pussy, she gave me a
wink. Damn it. Why the hell was I here and not in my own bed? The idea of a
threesome with Nadia and that chick was a tantalizing idea. Goddamnit! Stop
it, Charlie!
Nadia picked up both glasses and blew on them. Weird, but what about my new
situation wasn't? "Drink this; it'll help."
I took the glass from her so fast that she blinked in awe. I didn't care
what was in it, if it would make this stop, then I wanted it. It tasted
like a sex on the beach, mixed with something bitter. I made a face, but
kept chugging. I didn't come up for air until I'd downed the whole thing;
by that time, I was sucking in oxygen like a drowning victim resurfaced.
My belly felt warm. I knew the alcohol I just downed would do that, but the
warmth spread over my body like an electric blanket. It made my skin cringe
then relax, taking away the intensity of the pheromones. When it got to my
crotch, my vagina immediately lost all desire to be fucked--a relief on my
part. I think this is the first time I've ever sobered up by drinking
booze. The thought of it made me giggle.
"What?" Nadia asked sheepishly, like she didn't know.
"What do you mean, what? I never knew sex on the beach could make me feel
so good." Nadia spit out whatever she was drinking to laugh at that. It
took me a minute to get it. Ha-ha, very funny. I should be a
comedian. "Shut up." I shoved her a little. Her smile didn't fade as she
continued drinking.
"What do they have to eat here? What kind of buffet is it?" I asked trying
to get her mind out of the gutter. "And if you tell me human, I'm going to
pop you."
The taller woman hesitated. I know she wanted to say something smart, but
changed her mind. "They've got lamb, steak, salad, chicken, carpet,
whatever you want to munch on." It came out so smooth that I almost missed
the joke. And of course, by that time her face gave it away. "Seriously,
just ask the chef what you want and he'll make it. If it's a special order,
he'll deliver it to the table. So what you want to eat? Meat? Fruit? Pasta?
Pussy?"
"Would you knock it off!" I said, blushing. "God, you're as bad as Travis."
She sobered at the sound of his name. I didn't like that. I've learned
enough from Sylvia that that was a sign of guilt and/or shame. I was going
to press her for more, but a voice from across the table stopped me.
"Nadia! How you doing, my sweet?" the Voice said, obviously in a grand
mood.
"I'm good," she answered, meekly taking another sip of her drink. My eyes
darted between the two of them.
"Nadia, are you going to introduce me to your little morsel?" the Man asked
like a parent wanting to be introduced to his daughter's date. The effect
he had over Nadia was unsettling. The morsel bit I could overlook, but not
the way he said it.
"Yes," she said setting her goblet down. She rose to stand next to
him. Father Darien stood a full head taller than Nadia, which would put him
a good foot-and-a-half taller than me. His white shirt was open and
revealed his chiseled, hairless chest. His fair, almost translucent hair
stood in stark contrast to the smaller woman's. Father Darien's features
were bordering on beautiful. He hid his accent pretty well, but even I
could hear the french-romanian mix. He practically sang his
sentences. Yeah, this guy is totally a vampire. The way his hand snaked
around her shoulder, hit me with a pang of jealousy. Nadia's body went
rigid at his touch. "Father Darien, this is my Watcher, Charlene."
"It's a pleasure," the Father said with his hand outstretched. Any idiot
could see the tension flowing between them. Apparently, they had a history,
and one that Nadia would just as soon forget. I felt myself getting angry
at the thought of him touching her like she belonged to him.
"Yes, it is, Father Darien," I said, trying to be polite. His skin was
soft, his hand well manicured. I'd like to think the smile on his face was
genuine, but the discomfort on Nadia's face made me think otherwise. "So
you own this place?" I asked, trying to get him to let go of Nadia and sit
down--be nice and civil.
"Naturally," Father Darien said, making a grand gesture. "And as long as
you're with my little Nadia, everything will be provided for you." His
hands gripped the woman vamp tighter as he spoke. My anger was
building. Turning his attention back to me he grimaced, "My, my, my darling
you look famished. What would you like to eat tonight?"
I forced myself to relax; I didn't want to upset the owner and get us both
kicked out. "I'll have a red wine braised steak. Rare and with a side of
garlic mashed potatoes. And for a starter, I'll have your best caesar salad
with extra dressing and croutons on the side." The Father wasn't writing
any of this down. In fact he almost seemed to be ignoring me. "And would
you be kind enough to take you arm off of my vampire?" She looked at me
shocked. Hey, if she wants to call me her Watcher, then I'll call her my
vampire.
"Excellent," he exclaimed. He vanished in a display of speed and grace that
told me he was not only a vampire, but a high ranking one. What struck me
as odd was that fact that he didn't make a show of my last request.
Nadia sat back down next to me. I gestured for her to say something, but
she just stared off into the distance. I bumped her arm to get her
attention. "Care you tell me what the hell that was all about?" She shook
her head. "You don't want to tell your 'Watcher' what kind of shit I'm
getting into simply by sitting next to you." Still tranced out, she shook
her head. "Nadia, either you start talking, or I'm gone when I finish my
food."
She went from a trance to horrified. She looked weak, beaten, her past
hurts showed on her face and in her eyes. "But, I promised I'd never leave
you," the vamp mumbled. A tear fell from her eye.
"Look, you threw me into this," I said, trying not get upset, but
failing. "You force yourself on me, kidnap me, and then when I want to know
something you clam up? Since I'm obviously in this for the long run, I'm
trying to understand it all. If you think you can hold back things that I
feel I may need to know, think again. That kind of shit don't fly well with
me. Start. Talking."
"Later, I promise. I can't do it here."
I unclenched my jaw. The pain pouring out of her was too vivid to be
fake. "Fair enough. But who is he, and what's he to you?"
"He's one of the community leaders I hinted at earlier. He found me and
took me in off the streets. Before him, I was scum. Renegades are held in
higher regard compared to the monster he found me as. In his own twisted
way, He showed me how to love, not just myself and what I am, but others."
She had my attention. "I still think I'm a monster. When my hunger and
thirst kick in, I'm horrifying--I've seen the way you look at me. Father
Darien is one of the few that take in things like me. If it weren't for his
teachings, I would have ripped your throat out that night in the bathroom
without a care... until I needed more. I owe him more than I can ever
repay.
"I'm a junkie, Charlene. Blood is my drug. I need it. I crave it, but every
time the feeling subsides, I feel like a piece of my soul fades away. I
want to stop. But I can't.It's what keeps me alive and I lack the courage
to put an end to it."
Okay, maybe I shouldn't have pushed her. Nadia wiped away a tear. I reached
out and hugged her. It took a lot out of her to open up to me like that. I
felt her ever-powerful aura weakening. She sobbed against my chest. I held
her there, not daring to let go. A few of the other patrons noticed the
shift in her presence because they all turned and looked towards us. Using
the anger from earlier, I hardened my eyes to make them look elsewhere. It
was hard enough for me to see this woman transform from over confident to
vulnerable. And she did it by being honest. A quality that I'm sure our
audience was lacking.
"Father Darien said I needed a new Watcher, otherwise I'd go insane. And he
was right." Nadia said, sitting up after another minute. She let out a soft
chuckle adding, "I guess I didn't realize just how bad I really am."
I smiled softly at that, but that word 'new' struck me in the gut. "What
happened to your old Watcher?"
Again, a painful memory flashed over her face. "She got addicted to the
sexual rush and left me. She said I wasn't enough to sate what she needed
and I haven't seen her since. Last I heard she'd become fodder for a gang
of renegades somewhere downtown."
"Have you looked for her?"
The vampire shook he head. "If a Watcher abandons his or her vampire, then
the vampire severs all ties and seeks out a Watcher anew. We're supposed to
be strong enough to protect our Watchers from becoming exactly what she's
become. But our relationship was a perfect storm for failure. We both had
too many issues, me more than her, but it's ultimately because of my
weakness that she's out there, a walking buffet for anyone who needs a
meal. I warned her about it, but, like I said, she had a lot of respect
issues and too full of her own crap to listen."
"And how long ago was that?" I really needed to know.
"About a year, maybe two, I really don't remember. As soon as she left,
Father Darien let me stay here with him and he supported me through it." I
gulped at what he made her do in that time. Given how she reacted to him I
couldn't imagine it was flowers and breakfast in bed every morning. "He
helped me finish off the house that she and I had been working on for
years." I wasn't buying the subliminal message in that, but I let her get
it out. "Your salad's on the way."
Father Darien himself presented it to me. Nadia looked even more subdued
when he asked if I liked pepper on it. Which I did, but I could do it
myself. He went back to the kitchen after muttering, "Pity." Meet the
family, huh? If this is daddy, I'd hate to the weird cousin. And judging by
the looks of the people in here, that could be just about anybody.
I have to admit, as much as I disliked him, the man can cook. That was
probably the best caesar salad I've ever had. Not long after that came my
steak. The Were-House ain't got shit on this guy. I don't know what the
secret ingredient was, or where he went to culinary school, and maybe
because I was too freaking hungry to care, but I ordered a second
round. Nadia just stayed quiet and smiled softly the whole time I was
eating.
"Would you like another?" the male vampire asked with a genuine glee in his
voice. I've heard somewhere that the faster the food disappears, the bigger
the compliment. I just ate two whole dinners in less than thirty minutes.
I tried to mask any complimentary expressions behind annoyance, but I knew
this guy could pick up on it better than Nadia. "What do you have for
dessert?"
"My darling, Charlene," he started, making a show of it, "My kitchen is at
your service. We have anything your pretty little heart desires." I blushed
at that; the guy is a charmer and it felt nice to hear said so
smoothly. Even if the man would like to pin me to the table and feast--I
could see it in the glances between him and Nadia. "So, what would you
like?"
"Um... how about blueberry pie a la mode? With caramel drizzle?" Even Nadia
perked up to that.
"Fresh made caramel, or store-bought?"
Now he's just showing off. I put on my own charming smile and uttered,
"Surprise me." He liked that. I watched as Father Darien's eyes swelled
just slightly at the challenge in my tone. His lips widened to show me his
fangs, white, long and sharp. "And bring out two spoons. Please."
"I can do that." The vampire was practically glowing. He gave me that same
smile that Nadia did back her basement. She said something about my
strength around it. I don't know if that's good or bad that Darien is
mimicking that. It almost didn't end well last time.
I looked around at the gawking faces again. What was it about me that drew
their attention? I thought as the air around us started thickening. Nadia
noticed this too. A bolt of energy shot through me. "Nadia, I think I need
another a drink," I breathed, the oxygen being sucked out of my lungs. My
face went pale as the vampires started to fidget. Shit. "NOW!" My vampire
hissed something at the waitress, who obviously didn't like the
deteriorating situation. Poor Mattie. I watched her make it herself; the
bartender was trying to not vamp out.
I could smell the tension. Nadia went from subdued underling to pissed off
protector just like that. I could see her aura expanding, cloaking mine
with her own. That made it dissipate a bit, but I still wish
this... feeling would go away. I hate feeling like a potential vampire
blowup doll.
My mind went numb. I hunched over the table, ready to throw up. I heard so
many voices running through my head. I think I recognized one of them. I
didn't know what language it was, but it sounded familiar. They spoke to
me, telling me sweet things trying to entice me to leave with
them. Somehow, I regained an ounce of strength and ket repeating the word
"NO" over and over. "No, no, no, no..."
"Charlene! Look at me!" the familiar voice said as a pair of hands shook my
shoulders. My eyes cracked open. The blue haze shifted back to the dim
orange light that bathed the club. Nadia, with eyes fully dilated, she
looked deeply concerned and darkly beautiful. My head came out of the
popcorn dish, my mouth drooling a little. "You alright?"
"Maybe. How long was I out?" I looked around. Besides the guy lying
unconscious on the floor beside our table, everyone else was back at their
seats minding their own business. "And what happened to him?"
"He tried to make a pass at you," she said, sounding both proud and
ashamed. "He wasn't much trouble."
What! Not much trouble? The man's huge, arms the size of my head and thighs
thicker than my waist. But he was the one lying on the floor, out cold with
what looked like several claw marks on his face and neck. An implant the
size of Nadia's fist rested under both of his eyes. And Nadia was sitting
beside me sipping her drink. Not a scratch on her. I guess his t-shirt
lied--Nadia could mess with Texas. "What did you do?"
"I told you, and everyone else here, that you are my Watcher." She set her
goblet down and handed me my glass, blowing on it yet again. I sipped at
it, letting whatever was in here drown out the vampire sweetness of the
room. "That's what happens if someone lays a hand on MY Watcher." I gulped
at the pride behind that. I'd rather not think about what would have
happened if she wasn't there with me.
"Well, done, Nadia," Darien said, placing my pie and ice cream in front of
us. "Bravo!" He clapped his hands, the concussion hurt my ears for some
reason. Nadia didn't take the compliment well.
"Thank you," she mumbled looking down. That proud smile never left the
man's face as he waved at the bouncers to drag him out of here. Where the
hell did they come from?
"You ladies enjoy," Father Darien bowed with his hands outstretched. "I
made the ice cream myself just this evening." The man loves to brag, and as
I put a spoonful into my mouth, he has a damn good reason to. I dipped into
the pie and blended it with the soft vanilla heaven. Ohmigod! "Like it, I
see. Jerome picked out those berries only yesterday. And that bizarre
flavor in the pie crust is molasses blended with the butter then whipped
into submission."
"Thank you for everything, this is excellent," I said, wishing he'd leave
already. "But do you think you could let Nadia and I enjoy this without you
here?"
"Of course," the tall man said, taking another bow. He looked at
Nadia. When her face blanched I knew he said something to her that I wasn't
supposed to hear. "Have a good morning, miladies."
I watched his form disappear into the kitchen. "That guy gives me the
creeps." Nadia just kept spooning our dessert, not even looking at
me. "What does he have on you that make you turn into a beaten dog?"
Before I could breathe again, Nadia had me pinned to the wall. Anger oozed
out of her pores. Her eyes remained normal, which was a plus, but her open
mouth set me on edge. "I owe that man my life! He loved me when no one else
dared. Don't you dare speak ill of him in my presence."
I took a moment to slow my heart down. I fought with my instinct to say
something stupid. "I respect that, Nadia. I just want to know why you look
so... down whenever he's around." And he just flat-out made me
uncomfortable, but I kept that to myself.
"I said," she answered through clenched teeth, "I'll explain everything
after we leave. I cannot do it here."
"Alright," I said softly, trying to relax her. "Okay, not another word
until the sun comes up." The joke didn't help much. The vampire took her
seat and started eating our pie and ice cream. I watched her for another
minute before sitting back down next to her. "Can you drop me back off at
my house when we leave," I said more sullenly than I meant to. Maybe the
panic was still in my system.
"Sure." And that was the last time she looked at me the rest of the
morning.
********************
To be continued...